Chapter Four

"So, Susie, you live here with your brother?" Ellie asked as she sat down at the table and removed her gloves, wrinkling her nose when she realized just how sweaty her hands had become while wrapped in the satin.

"Yes," Susie replied quietly, "Jacob is his name. He raised Sally and I."

Ellie noticed that her accent was different from most in Texas.

"Where are you from dear?" Ellie asked.

Susie wiped her hands on a rag and sat down at the table, folding her hands in her lap, "Virginia. We've only been living here a couple of months. This ranch belongs to Elizabeth and she and Brody invited my sister, Jacob and I to come live here."

"That was very nice of them. Sit up a little straighter, dear." Ellie urged, when she noticed the way Susie's shoulders were slightly slumped. She was supposed to be teaching proper etiquette to the older girls after all. Though Ellie herself only knew proper etiquette because Otis had spent hours giving her lessons so she'd be successful with her cons. Ellie herself hated the ma'am, sir, Miss, Mr., corset wearing, fancy dress ridiculousness that was considered proper.

She really wasn't sure what she would really like to be like, since every day of her life for the last ten years had been spent acting like someone else. Sometimes she thought about her mama. She'd always worn simple but pretty cotton dresses. Her hair had always been styled plainly. She had loved to smile and cook and her husband and children had been her life. Ellie hoped maybe someday she could have a life like that.

"You'll be living here with us?" Susie asked as she sat up straighter. Ellie nodded.

"Yes. Your brothers and Elizabeth wanted you to have a woman here with you during the day and someone to help take care of the babies."

"I think it will be nice to have another woman here to talk to. Most days I'm alone for hours with the babies while everyone else works. I'm not much help with the ranch so I help out with the house."

Ellie felt sympathy for this girl. She was obviously shy and withdrawn, just the way Ellie herself had always been before Otis. Ellie stood quickly and smoothed out her skirts, "I believe I will take that rest after all. I am awfully fatigued after my trip this morning. Would you show me to my room?" she asked.

Susie nodded and led Ellie down a long hallway to a door at the end, "This is your room."

Ellie smiled gently at the girl, "Thank you, dear. I'll only rest a while and then I will help you with supper."

Susie nodded and quickly walked away. Ellie let herself into the room and looked around. The walls were bright yellow and the furniture was all dark mahogany. The bed was small but the wardrobe was large. She pulled open the door to the wardrobe and found it empty. There was a small dresser in the corner next to a wash basin and pitcher.

"Home sweet home," she mused to her reflection in the full length mirror. She sat down on the bed, pulled off the glasses and covered her face with her hands.

What was wrong with her? Never before had she felt guilty over doing a job, so why was she feeling guilty now? Maybe it was because she had never before misled an entire family. Maybe it was because she felt a connection with little Susie. Or maybe it was just because she was growing soft.

She sighed and flopped back on the soft feather tick mattress, "Four more years," she whispered to the ceiling. Just four more years and she would no longer need Otis Black and he would no longer have her sisters welfare to hold over her head.

***

"Time to head on back I guess," Jacob said as he wiped his face.

Every hand had worked all day getting one hundred head of the cattle moved from the north pasture to the west pasture and his entire body was hurting. He looked over the group of ranch hands. Elizabeth had already gone back to the house a few hours earlier to feed the babies, but Sally had stuck it out.

Jacob was proud of her and worried about her at the same time. She was hardworking but too headstrong for her own good and she always acted like she had a chip on her shoulder.

"I'm going to help break that new stallion Frank found tomorrow." Sally announced as she brought her horse alongside his.

Jacob looked at Frank, who had come back to the ranch for a job once he knew that Elizabeth would be running it, and Frank grinned sheepishly, "I told her it was dangerous," he offered.

"I'm not scared," Sally said, sitting up straight in the saddle.

Jacob shook his head, "No, Sally. That is too dangerous for a thirteen year old girl."

"Three more years and I'll be a grown woman!" Sally exclaimed. "Then you won't be able to tell me what to do anymore!"

"I don't tell you what to do now, Sally. But I'm not going to let you do something that will more than likely end with you being seriously hurt or killed," Jacob said patiently. He had learned that getting angry with Sally often only made things worse.

"You're not my pa, Jacob," Sally spat.

"Hey!" Thomas scolded, "That man loves you and he's just trying to look out for you. I'll break that damn stallion and if I catch your little ass even trying to get on it, I'll whoop you myself."

Immature embarrassment and indignation appeared on Sally's face and she glared at Jacob, "Are you going to let him talk to me like that?" Jacob shrugged, "You want to be treated as an adult. Deal with it yourself."

Thomas was chuckling when Sally turned to him, "You will not speak to me like that, Thomas! You work for my sister in law and I will see to it that she fires you if you ever disrespect me like that again."

"Go ahead and give it a try, Sally. Liz and I happen to be friends. Besides you like me too much to ever make me leave."

Sally let out a screech that made her sound exactly like the angry child that she was and she kicked her horse in the sides and took off toward home, "What the hell is her problem?" Thomas demanded as he pulled off his hat and scratched at his thick blond hair.

"I don't know," Jacob replied tiredly. "She is stubborn, headstrong and determined to grow up."

"She needs her ass whooped," Thomas countered.

Jacob chuckled but shook his head, "Pa never whooped us kids. He didn't approve of it."

"Yeah, well, your pa never knew the thirteen year old Sally either. He probably would have changed his opinion."

"Probably," Jacob agreed.

Thomas stuck his hat back on his head, "Well I'm gonna get going to town. Tomorrow's my day off and I'm gonna sow some wild oats." he said with a wink.

Jacob nodded and Thomas galloped quickly away. Jacob felt a moment of jealousy toward Thomas. Jacob had never had the choice of sowing wild oats. At the age when most young men are setting off to run wild, have adventures and live crazy he had suddenly found himself alone with two young girls and a struggling farm.

He knew that Sally was like Brody. Sally didn't like being told what to do. She didn't like having to answer to anyone and she was still angry about what had happened to her parents all those years ago and how hard life had been on the farm. She wanted to be grown and have control of her own life and decisions and Jacob didn't blame her.

Jacob jumped off his horse at the barn and handed the reins to Frank. He rubbed the back of his neck and looked inside the barn. Elizabeth and Brody weren't here. Their horses were gone. They must have already gone back to their house with the babies. He was a little disappointed that he wouldn't get to see his niece and nephew tonight but then he remembered the mood Sally was in and decided it was probably just as well.

Jacob decided to go down to the river and clean up a bit before he went inside. He walked to the back of the house and pulled off his hat and shirt. Using the soap that he had left out here on the rock, Jacob quickly lathered his chest, arms and face. The cool water felt good against his hot, sweaty skin and he rolled his shoulders to work out the stiffness in his muscles. He ran his hand through his short hair, leaving it standing in wet spikes, before picking up his hat and dirty shirt and walking back to the house.

***

Ellie heard someone stomping into the house and she looked up from the pie dough she was rolling to see a girl who was almost identical to Susie, minus the dark freckles, walk into the kitchen.

"Who are you?" the girl demanded.

"I am Miss Bradshaw," Ellie replied with a warm smile.

"Oh right, the nanny. I don't see why you have to live with us. Susie and I don't need nobody to teach us how to act."

"You do not need anybody," Ellie corrected. She found that she liked Sally already. The girl had spunk and attitude. Yes, she might need to learn just a little respect toward adults but there was a lot of fire in her. It reminded Ellie of Liza.

Sally snorted and crossed her arms over her chest, "That's what I just said. What are you, slow or something?"

"That's enough. Sally Atkinson, get up to your room now and don't come down here until you learn a little respect!" an angry voice ordered from behind Ellie.

Ellie turned and was sure that her jaw dropped to the floor. Standing there was a man that was six and a half feet of solid, lean, tanned muscle. He wasn't wearing a shirt and every inch of his broad chest, tight stomach, and powerful arms were well defined and dripping wet. She forced her eyes up to his face and realized that it was just as good as what was below. He had sharp features. A long nose. Firm lips that were just a little bit more full than most men. His eyes were green and though he was angry, there was a warmth and a kindness in them that caused Ellie's heart to beat just a little faster. His dark brown hair was cut short and it was soaking wet and sticking up in odd angles, making it clear he had run his fingers through it.

"But Jacob....." Sally whined.

Jacob tore his eyes away from the enchanting woman currently standing in his kitchen and looked at his angry sister, "No buts. Get to your room. Now."

Sally stomped from the room and Susie quickly jumped up from the table, "I'll go see what's bothering her," she whispered before leaving the room.

Jacob turned his gaze back to Miss Alice Bradshaw. She was the single most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on even with the glasses and the boring bun in her hair. Her skin was pale, and her cheeks were full and pink. She had a heart shaped face and full lips. Her blue wool and black lace dress was a bit more prim and proper than what he liked but it did hug her ample chest nicely and it emphasized her narrow waist. Jacob realized that he had to look down quite a bit to see her. She couldn't be much more than five feet tall which made him a foot and a half taller than she was.

"I'm sorry for my sister's rudeness, Miss Bradshaw," Jacob tipped his head with a smile and felt his cheeks redden, "And for my own appearance. Had I know we had company I never would have come in without a shirt." His words simply reminded Ellie of the fact that he was shirtless and her eyes were once again drawn to his bare chest and stomach. Was there air in this kitchen? Because all of a sudden she couldn't seem to draw any into her lungs! What was wrong with her? She was a seasoned con artist, not some weak kneed damsel who would collapse into any mans waiting arms. But then again this wasn't just any man. This was him. This was her dream man. Whenever she had imagined what her husband would have looked like, this was it. Of course even she had never imagined he'd look that good without his shirt.

"Are you okay, Miss Bradshaw?" Jacob asked. "You look flushed." Ellie's mouth worked up and down several times until finally she mentally slapped herself and forced her eyes to look up into his, "I am just fine, Mr. Atkinson. You startled me a bit, that is all." She planted a wide innocent smile on her face and pushed her glasses up.

Jacob grinned sheepishly, "Sorry. I'll go put on something more suited for dinner, ma'am. There isn't much we'll need you to do around here in the evenings, Miss Bradshaw. The girls are used to taking care of themselves."

"I'll be more than happy to take care of anything you might need me to, Mr. Atkinson," Ellie replied as her eyes strayed lower to the dark trousers hugging his lean hips. She blushed dark red and turned quickly to go back to her pie.

What was wrong with her?! She had made her life flirting and making men swoon over her but now she was no better than an innocent little school girl. Just looking at Jacob Atkinson had her heart racing, her cheeks flushed and her mind filling with all kinds of scenes from her dime store novels... Only the characters of the story had been replaced with her and this man who embodied perfection.

"I'll send Susie back down to help with the pie," Jacob grunted before clearing his throat to rid the newfound gruffness from his voice. He had seen her gaze go to his pants and he had seen the slight darkening in her deep blue eyes, followed by the deep blush that covered her cheeks. Jacob knew where her mind had gone and God help him if his mind hadn't gone to exactly the same place.

How long had it been since he'd had such feelings for a woman he'd just met? Hell he'd never had feelings like this for any woman. He'd like to pick her up in his arms, carry her to his bed and make love to her right now but that wouldn't be wise considering his sisters were in the house and she was a proper lady, hired to be an employee of the ranch. He was sure Elizabeth wouldn't appreciate it if he scared off her newfound help.

Ellie didn't reply and she heard him walk out of the room. She let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding and walked over to check the ham that was baking in the oven.

***

By the time Ellie slid under the covers that night she was sure of only one thing. This job wasn't going to work out. She couldn't even think when Jacob's soft green eyes met hers let alone try to fool him. Susie was too much like she had been as a child and Sally? Sally was a spitfire just like Liza.

Elizabeth was far nicer than Ellie had thought she would be and there was no way that she could fool Brody. That man had eyes sharper than any hawk or eagle she'd ever seen. And if he found out she was stealing from his family? Ellie swallowed hard. Sally had told her plenty of stories at dinner about Brody... Brody was not an enemy that she wanted to have.

The so called greatest thief in the world just couldn't bring herself to mislead these people. Jacob was her dream man, the man she would have married if her mother had not died and her father had not abandoned her. The man she would have married if she had never met Otis and learned how good she was at lying. The man she would have married if she hadn't been desperate to give her sister a better life.

She would just have to send word to Otis that she was coming home, tell the family she had an emergency to get back to and get the heck out of here quickly. She would simply go back to making stuffy old men fall desperately in love with her. That seemed much safer.